The book I chose was Black Storm Comin’ written by Diane Lee Wilson. I chose this book because it was the only one that was unpacked in the house I just moved into that seemed interesting. Also it is about horses and the Pony Express, which interests me greatly.
Genre
Black Storm Comin’ falls under the genre of historical fiction because it takes place right before the start of the Civil War during the presidential election of Abraham Lincoln. It is also western fiction because it involves Manifest Destiny, which is the idea of owning and populating all the land from the east to the west coast. Families go on wagon trains to travel over the plains and mountains mostly to get to California. There was no way of communicating between families or friends over the long distance except by telegraph and the Pony Express. The Pony Express was a company that delivered mail over the vast distances. Young men usually signed up for the job and they would gallop horses for a few miles with the mail and then stop at a small station or barn and get a fresh horse and continue galloping. By the end of the persons run they would give their mail to a fresh horse and rider and rest at a station. When the mail came back their way then they would gallop back to where they first started and travel the same route back and forth, again and again. Most people usually quit within a month because it was so hard and dangerous.
Plot
The book is about a racial mixed family that is trying to travel from Missouri, to Sacramento, California. They join a wagon train but are not treated well by the other families because the mother is black making the children half-black. The mother has a newly born baby and they are both very sick, and the father runs away from the wagon train and his family when he accidently shoots his son in the leg. Over time the family is abandoned from the train and is left alone in the desert until they make it to a small town where the mother is sent to the doctor to recover. The family has no money so Colton the eldest child, who passes as a white boy, goes to apply for the job at the Pony Express. Before he leaves to begin his new job, his mother gives him a small envelope that holds freedom papers for her sister in Sacramento. Colton promises to get the letter delivered, but being in the Pony Express has more challenges and dangers then he originally thought.
Characters
Colton Wescott is one of the most important characters in the book Black Storm Comin’. He is the one and only hope for his family and he tries to save them from poverty, fatherlessness, and racial discrimination. Colton is determined and good hearted, he attempts to be the fatherly figure for his mother and two sisters after his father ran away from the wagon train they were traveling with. “I made myself stand tall, as much as to say We’re still together and we’re doing fine.” 29. Colton looks white like his father even though his mother is African American; he tries to take advantage of this but not for the profit of himself, only for helping his family even though it requires much work and energy. However there is a side of Colton that wishes to still be a child. “It felt good, so good to be resting, so good to just be quiet and still.” 236 He had to grow up quickly to settle things for his family but he missed out on much of his childhood. His overwhelming desire to help the ones he cares about overpowers his despair and he shakes his old and childish self away.
The mother of Colton, Althea, and Jewel is addressed throughout the book as Ma. Ma is African American, making her children a mixed race. Since Ma is black many people that her family is traveling on the wagon train to California are rude and discriminating against the family. “I dropped to my heels with a feel sick feeling. We’d eaten our own animals last night. And been tricked into it by that lady Althea said was just being nice.” 45 Ma is normally a strong, independent, and caring women but she is deathly ill after birthing a new baby. Even though she is sickly and frail she still finds the strength to direct Colton to the right path into helping the family. She still tries to put her children ahead of herself. Ma also accepts the racial discrimination that occurs. “World is what it is and you can’t change that.” 97 She believes that the opinions of people won’t change because people are stubborn and don’t adjust the way they think.
Althea is the little sister of Colton and becomes the motherly figure when Ma gets too ill to take care of the family. Althea is a lot like her brother in the sense that she is determined and caring, but she is also very frightened about possibly living with no parents at all. She tries to be strong and take good care of her little sister but Althea is still a young kid who craves for the love and guidance of parents. She doesn’t want Colton to take the job at the Pony Express, but deep inside she knows that it is the only thing that will save them. “Don’t be thinking ‘bout leaving us, Colton. You’re all we got.” 93. Althea attempts to be angry at Colton but she is only scared that he may lose his life, or run off like Pa and leave the family alone to rot.
Big Ideas
Racial discrimination, family dynamics, and the quest for freedom are the biggest ideas in Black Storm Comin’. Since the family is mixed racially they are discriminated against, they want to travel to California in the belief that a better life awaits them there. However the father runs away during the travel and being the only pure white member of the family the remaining family is treated unfairly by their traveling companions. Finally the family is abandoned to fend for themselves. Somehow the family finds a way to overcome the hardships, together they stand up to those who were against them, and they continue to travel west. It’s almost as if to show the world that even if obstacles take them down, they will get up and continue until it kills them. However to beat the evils that surrounds the family they must take advantage of every situation that passes them by. Even if the situation seems bad at first it is vital to have the patience to look over all the options and solutions that can occur instead of focusing and putting energy into the wrong thing of just giving up. When someone gives up it is like asking for death to come and sweep you away, giving up isn’t just leaving the problem unsolved, it’s a battle lost in the never ending war of life. When one battle is lost, hope is also lost, resulting and more lost battles and eventually the loss of the war that is life. This book shows us exactly that, but it shows winning the war instead of losing.
Conflict
One of the major problems in the book is that Ma gives Colton an envelope containing freedom papers for her sister in California, but the family has no way of getting there and delivering the papers together. Colton is in need of money also so he joins the Pony Express and takes a route heading towards California. He rides for days until he is stopped at a post not too far from his intended destination. Thinking he is only stopping for a rest he stays until the next rider comes. The rider does come, but he is heading the opposite direction from California. That means that Colton has to ride all the way back to where he came from and then to back to where he is now, looking at the distance for California, but never able to reach it. Colton gets good money to pay for the care of his sick Ma during his rides but he promised her to deliver the freedom paper, he has to find a way to cheat the system. Soon he sees his chance, a snowstorm has ravaged the mountain path leading to California, no rider dares to cross it and the Pony Express wont risk any horses. Colton takes his own horse and steals the mail; it contains top secret information that could save the presidents life. He makes his way to California all in one day, he is able to deliver the mail and freedom paper, saving numerous lives along the way. Colton showed an act of great bravery and determination that even grown men refuse to show, he did it all for the benefit of his family and too his surprise, the country.
Symbolism
In the picture drawn there is a dark African American hand and a hardly visible white hand. Both hands are reaching for each other but the darker hand is encased in chains, but the chains have been broken. It shows the power and love of family is stronger than that of captivity. Family comes first no matter what one looks like, and the truth of that commitment can bring everyone that is part of it into freedom. The back round of the art is shaded green. Green is a color that represents freedom, hope, and rebirth. It sets the mood for the total piece in being one of the hopes of freedom and starting a new life.
Vocabulary
Deluge
“They hung their heads under the deluge and just kept plodding.” 21 A heavy downpour.
Crescendo
“Its creaking crescendoed and exploded in popping splinters as two more spokes snapped.” 22 To make greater.
Ledger
“Papers were strewn all cross its surface, and Mr. Roberts was bent over ‘em, studying ‘em before penning figures into a ledger.” 111 A book that keeps track of transactions.
Populace
“With the whole populace of Carson City looking on, and my face burning, I fumbled with the saddle.” 121 The whole group of people in an area.
Scanty
“Someone would find it in the afternoon when they came out to feed, and someone else, later, would cherish the news, scanty it was.” 238 Not a lot of; scarce.
Related Works
In the novel read, there are not many subjects or materials that are like it. The story and plot are quite individual and unique but it can be found that there are some similar items and ideas it modern works found today. The Ghost of You by My Chemical Romance is similar in idea to the book Black Storm Comin’. In the song there is one lyric that is reiterated throughout the piece, “never coming home, never coming home”. Those lyrics alone represent the departure of the father from the family in the novel. It also represents the possibility of Colton dying while on the job for the Pony Express and to never come home to his family and care for them. Another part of the song says, “And all the things that you never ever told me. And all the smiles that are ever ever.” In the song it is talking about a husband separated from his wife. This is similar to the book because Colton’s father left him and he never got to learn much from his father like most children do. He never got the chance to be a kid and rely on his father for hope and courage, instead Colton had to grow up early and be the father for his siblings and the man for his mother. He would be the one to teach instead of learn. However if Colton was killed the family wouldn’t have anyone to help them.
http://www.glogster.com/caroline101100/fahrenheit-451/g-6l3luvjh4rpg9uqlr6kh5a0BLACK STORM COMIN'
Introduction
The book I chose was Black Storm Comin’ written by Diane Lee Wilson. I chose this book because it was the only one that was unpacked in the house I just moved into that seemed interesting. Also it is about horses and the Pony Express, which interests me greatly.
Genre
Black Storm Comin’ falls under the genre of historical fiction because it takes place right before the start of the Civil War during the presidential election of Abraham Lincoln. It is also western fiction because it involves Manifest Destiny, which is the idea of owning and populating all the land from the east to the west coast. Families go on wagon trains to travel over the plains and mountains mostly to get to California. There was no way of communicating between families or friends over the long distance except by telegraph and the Pony Express. The Pony Express was a company that delivered mail over the vast distances. Young men usually signed up for the job and they would gallop horses for a few miles with the mail and then stop at a small station or barn and get a fresh horse and continue galloping. By the end of the persons run they would give their mail to a fresh horse and rider and rest at a station. When the mail came back their way then they would gallop back to where they first started and travel the same route back and forth, again and again. Most people usually quit within a month because it was so hard and dangerous.
Plot
The book is about a racial mixed family that is trying to travel from Missouri, to Sacramento, California. They join a wagon train but are not treated well by the other families because the mother is black making the children half-black. The mother has a newly born baby and they are both very sick, and the father runs away from the wagon train and his family when he accidently shoots his son in the leg. Over time the family is abandoned from the train and is left alone in the desert until they make it to a small town where the mother is sent to the doctor to recover. The family has no money so Colton the eldest child, who passes as a white boy, goes to apply for the job at the Pony Express. Before he leaves to begin his new job, his mother gives him a small envelope that holds freedom papers for her sister in Sacramento. Colton promises to get the letter delivered, but being in the Pony Express has more challenges and dangers then he originally thought.
Characters
Colton Wescott is one of the most important characters in the book Black Storm Comin’. He is the one and only hope for his family and he tries to save them from poverty, fatherlessness, and racial discrimination. Colton is determined and good hearted, he attempts to be the fatherly figure for his mother and two sisters after his father ran away from the wagon train they were traveling with. “I made myself stand tall, as much as to say We’re still together and we’re doing fine.” 29. Colton looks white like his father even though his mother is African American; he tries to take advantage of this but not for the profit of himself, only for helping his family even though it requires much work and energy. However there is a side of Colton that wishes to still be a child. “It felt good, so good to be resting, so good to just be quiet and still.” 236 He had to grow up quickly to settle things for his family but he missed out on much of his childhood. His overwhelming desire to help the ones he cares about overpowers his despair and he shakes his old and childish self away.
The mother of Colton, Althea, and Jewel is addressed throughout the book as Ma. Ma is African American, making her children a mixed race. Since Ma is black many people that her family is traveling on the wagon train to California are rude and discriminating against the family. “I dropped to my heels with a feel sick feeling. We’d eaten our own animals last night. And been tricked into it by that lady Althea said was just being nice.” 45 Ma is normally a strong, independent, and caring women but she is deathly ill after birthing a new baby. Even though she is sickly and frail she still finds the strength to direct Colton to the right path into helping the family. She still tries to put her children ahead of herself. Ma also accepts the racial discrimination that occurs. “World is what it is and you can’t change that.” 97 She believes that the opinions of people won’t change because people are stubborn and don’t adjust the way they think.
Althea is the little sister of Colton and becomes the motherly figure when Ma gets too ill to take care of the family. Althea is a lot like her brother in the sense that she is determined and caring, but she is also very frightened about possibly living with no parents at all. She tries to be strong and take good care of her little sister but Althea is still a young kid who craves for the love and guidance of parents. She doesn’t want Colton to take the job at the Pony Express, but deep inside she knows that it is the only thing that will save them. “Don’t be thinking ‘bout leaving us, Colton. You’re all we got.” 93. Althea attempts to be angry at Colton but she is only scared that he may lose his life, or run off like Pa and leave the family alone to rot.
Big Ideas
Racial discrimination, family dynamics, and the quest for freedom are the biggest ideas in Black Storm Comin’. Since the family is mixed racially they are discriminated against, they want to travel to California in the belief that a better life awaits them there. However the father runs away during the travel and being the only pure white member of the family the remaining family is treated unfairly by their traveling companions. Finally the family is abandoned to fend for themselves. Somehow the family finds a way to overcome the hardships, together they stand up to those who were against them, and they continue to travel west. It’s almost as if to show the world that even if obstacles take them down, they will get up and continue until it kills them. However to beat the evils that surrounds the family they must take advantage of every situation that passes them by. Even if the situation seems bad at first it is vital to have the patience to look over all the options and solutions that can occur instead of focusing and putting energy into the wrong thing of just giving up. When someone gives up it is like asking for death to come and sweep you away, giving up isn’t just leaving the problem unsolved, it’s a battle lost in the never ending war of life. When one battle is lost, hope is also lost, resulting and more lost battles and eventually the loss of the war that is life. This book shows us exactly that, but it shows winning the war instead of losing.
Conflict
One of the major problems in the book is that Ma gives Colton an envelope containing freedom papers for her sister in California, but the family has no way of getting there and delivering the papers together. Colton is in need of money also so he joins the Pony Express and takes a route heading towards California. He rides for days until he is stopped at a post not too far from his intended destination. Thinking he is only stopping for a rest he stays until the next rider comes. The rider does come, but he is heading the opposite direction from California. That means that Colton has to ride all the way back to where he came from and then to back to where he is now, looking at the distance for California, but never able to reach it. Colton gets good money to pay for the care of his sick Ma during his rides but he promised her to deliver the freedom paper, he has to find a way to cheat the system. Soon he sees his chance, a snowstorm has ravaged the mountain path leading to California, no rider dares to cross it and the Pony Express wont risk any horses. Colton takes his own horse and steals the mail; it contains top secret information that could save the presidents life. He makes his way to California all in one day, he is able to deliver the mail and freedom paper, saving numerous lives along the way. Colton showed an act of great bravery and determination that even grown men refuse to show, he did it all for the benefit of his family and too his surprise, the country.
Symbolism
In the picture drawn there is a dark African American hand and a hardly visible white hand. Both hands are reaching for each other but the darker hand is encased in chains, but the chains have been broken. It shows the power and love of family is stronger than that of captivity. Family comes first no matter what one looks like, and the truth of that commitment can bring everyone that is part of it into freedom. The back round of the art is shaded green. Green is a color that represents freedom, hope, and rebirth. It sets the mood for the total piece in being one of the hopes of freedom and starting a new life.
Vocabulary
Deluge
“They hung their heads under the deluge and just kept plodding.” 21 A heavy downpour.
Crescendo
“Its creaking crescendoed and exploded in popping splinters as two more spokes snapped.” 22 To make greater.
Ledger
“Papers were strewn all cross its surface, and Mr. Roberts was bent over ‘em, studying ‘em before penning figures into a ledger.” 111 A book that keeps track of transactions.
Populace
“With the whole populace of Carson City looking on, and my face burning, I fumbled with the saddle.” 121 The whole group of people in an area.
Scanty
“Someone would find it in the afternoon when they came out to feed, and someone else, later, would cherish the news, scanty it was.” 238 Not a lot of; scarce.
Related Works
In the novel read, there are not many subjects or materials that are like it. The story and plot are quite individual and unique but it can be found that there are some similar items and ideas it modern works found today. The Ghost of You by My Chemical Romance is similar in idea to the book Black Storm Comin’. In the song there is one lyric that is reiterated throughout the piece, “never coming home, never coming home”. Those lyrics alone represent the departure of the father from the family in the novel. It also represents the possibility of Colton dying while on the job for the Pony Express and to never come home to his family and care for them. Another part of the song says, “And all the things that you never ever told me. And all the smiles that are ever ever.” In the song it is talking about a husband separated from his wife. This is similar to the book because Colton’s father left him and he never got to learn much from his father like most children do. He never got the chance to be a kid and rely on his father for hope and courage, instead Colton had to grow up early and be the father for his siblings and the man for his mother. He would be the one to teach instead of learn. However if Colton was killed the family wouldn’t have anyone to help them.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/409292730